The only constant in life is change. Business is no different. Your success is directly proportional to your 
flexibility and willingness to embrace new ideas.
But for most, change is hard. You’re used to thinking and doing things a certain way. So new ideas can elicit “I can’t do that” or “Yes, but…”
We see it all the time with new clients.
We used to get frustrated by their lack of willingness to try new things until we realised a couple of key concepts.
The brain creates neurological pathways when you learn and practice activities. The more you practice, the stronger and thicker the pathway. Think highways of thought. Side roads that aren’t used get closed and become impassable.
So when presented with a new concept, a new pathway has to be created. At first there is resistance. It’s too hard to cut a path through the undergrowth.
But if you persist, a road is built and then strengthened, eventually becoming a highway.
Brain studies have shown it can take up to 72 hours (3 days) for the mind to mull over a completely new idea before it accepts it might be possible and is willing to give it a chance.
Knowing this we when confronted by the “Yes, but…”, we smile and persevere. The adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is apt.
We know we have to keep chipping away until the idea is accepted and change happens.
And no, we’re not immune from this ourselves. Barbara and I both have to chip away at each other to get new ideas accepted. And when we do change, wonder why it took us so long and how much more we could have accomplished if only we’d been quicker to accept the ideas.
That’s life.
So if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t do that”, or “It’ll never work”, or “Yes, but…”, catch yourself and give yourself the time to mull over them. Try on the new ideas for size. You never know. They might just work!
Rashid & Barbara.
